Cleaning apparatus



Nov. 17, 1931. Q J. w. ANDERSON- CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 17, 1931 J. w. ANDERSON r 1.

CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 24, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 J. W. ANDERSON CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Dec.

Nbv. 17, 1931.

24, 1926 4 Sheets- Sheet 4 till Patented Nov. .17, 1931 JOHN W. ANDON, (F GARY, INDIANA w: Arrarwrus Application filed December 2 .1, 1926. Serial Ito. 156,981.

My invention relates to cleaning apparatus and particularly to windshield cleaning devices.

The object of the invention is broadly to provide an improved windshield cleaner having a plurality ofspaced elements adapted to wipe the windshield... a

A particular object of the invention is to provide improved means for connecting an auxiliary squeegee to the main squeegee of a windshield cleaning device Another particular object of the invention is to provide improved means whereby an auxiliary squeegee, or the equivalent, may be operatively connected to windshield cleanin devices now in existence.

any other objects and advantages of the constructionherein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein. given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown, and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like. reference characters indicate like. or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a windshield upon which apparatus embodying the invention has been mounted;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; a

Fig. 4 1s a section taken on line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 1s a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1; i

Fig. 6 IS a section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 IS a section taken on line 7-'? of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 1s a section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a section taken online 10 10 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a section corresponding to Fig.

10, but illustrating another embodiment or? the invention;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary elevation out a windshield upon which aparatus embodying another form. of the invention has been mounted; I

Fig. 13 is an enlarged section taken on line 1313 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 141- is an enlarged section taken on line 14 -14 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a section taken on line 15-15 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged section taken on line 16-16 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 17 is a section taken on line 1'2-12" of Fig. 15;

Fig. 18 .is a section taken substantially on line 13-13 of Fig. 12, the apparatus embodyin%the invention being shown in elevation;

ig. 19 is a perspective view of a member which forms part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 12; I

Fi 20 is a section taken on line 20-20 of Flg. 12; and

Figs. 21, 22, 23 and 24 are sections corresponding to the section shown in 18, but taken through the Windshields 0t various types of automobiles.

Referring for the present to Figs. 1 to 10, inclusive, the reference character 15 designates generally a windshield having a frame 16 upon which a windshield cleaning device 17 is mounted. The windshield cleaning device may be of any suitable construction and may be mounted in any preferred manner upon the windshield 15, but for the purposes of this disclosure; I have illustrated an electro-magnetically operated windshield clean ing device of the type more fully shown and described in the copending application of Theodore J. Smulski, Serial No. 25,532 filed April 24, 1925. In this embodiment of the invention, the windshield cleaning device 17 comprises a casing or housing 18 which encloses the electro magnetically operated till mechanism, a shaft 19 projecting from the casing 18 being operatively connected to the electro-magnetically operated mechanism as more fully shown and described in the aforementioned copending application. As shown,

the casin 18 is mounted upon the inner side of the-windshield 15 and the shaft 19 prob jects from the frame 16 so that a squeegee 20 may be operatively connected to the outer end thereof.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 10, inclusive, the squeegee 20 is operatively connected to'the shaft 19 by apparatus which is more fully shOWn and described in my copending application, Serial N 0. 112,711 filed May 29, 1926. Briefly, this apparatus comprises a clamping member 22 which may be tightened upon the shaft 19 by manipulating a screw or bolt 24, the shaft 19 being preferably provided with flattened surfaces 25 to insure that the clamping member 22 will not be angularly displaced relative to the shaft. Pivoted upon and susnded from the screw or bolt 24 is a relativey resilient strip 27 of metal, which strip may be secured in a plurality of adjusted positions around the lon itudinal axis of the screw or bolt 24. For t is purpose, the interior surfaces of the clamping member 22 are pro vided with detents or teeth more fully described in the above mentioned copendin application, these teeth being substantially o longitudinally of the the same design as the teeth 29 which are shown in Fig. 5 and are hereinafter described. The squeegee 20 is preferably of the same construction as an auxiliary squeegee 31 which is operatively connected to the squeegee 20 and is hereinafter described in detai The squeegee 20 is operatively connected to the strip 27 by means preferably comprising clampin devices 33 which may be secured in a plura ity of adjusted positions strip. The squeegee 20 is preferably loosely pivoted to the clamping devices 33.

As best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the auxiliary squeegee '31 preferably comprises a strip 34 formed of any suitable material such as rubber. The strip 34 is preferably clamped in a U-shaped member 35, or the equivalent,

the U-shaped member 35 being loosely pivoted by a cotter pin 37 or the equivalent, to a pair of clamping devices 38 which are substantially identical in construction with the aforementioned clamping devices 33. The clamping devices 38 engage a relatively resilient strip 39 of metal and may be secured in a plurality of adjusted positions upon the strip, a bolt 41 which extends through the clamping devices being provided for this purpose.

Referring now to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, it will be noted that the upper end of the strip 39 is provided with a hooked portion 43 pivotally mounted upon a screw or bolt 44 which is screw-threaded into a clamping member 45 in such manner that it may be manipulated to bring the aforementioned teeth 29 into engagement with the side edges of the strip 39, the teeth 29 being formed upon the clampggovided with a bolt ing member 45. Obviously, the stri 39 may e secured in a pluralit of angu arl adj usted positions around t e longitudina axis of the bolt or screw 44 to control the pressure with which the strip 31- engages the windshield 15. The clamping member 45 is mounted upon a bushing 47 which is, in turn, mounted upon a screw or bolt 48 rigidly secured to a bracket 49 and the bracket 49 is preferably secured to the frame 16 by screws 50 or the equivalent.

lExtendin from the clamping member 45 and prefera ly formed integral therewith is a lever portion 52 which is connected b a link 54 with the strip 27. The link 54 pre erably comprises an offset member 55 pivoted by a pin 56 to the lever ortion 52. The offset member 55 is adjusta ly secured to an offset member 57 by clamping devices 58. As best shown in Fi 9, each clamping device 58 is preferably substantially U-shaped and is or screw 59 which may manipulated to tighten the clamping device upon the otfset members 55 and 57 so that they will be rigidly secured to each other. To prevent the clamping devices 58 from belng accidentally removed or displaced relative to the contacting portions of the offset members 55 and 57, I preferably provide integral lu s 62 and 63 upon the offset portions 55 and 5 respectively. 1

The means for securin the offset member 57 to the strip 27 prefera ly comprises a ball 65 which is rigidly secured to the offset member 57 and is journaled in a socket 66 formed in a block 67. The block 67 is providedwith a slot 69 adapted to receive the strip 27 and a belt or screw 70 screw-threaded into the block 67 may be manipulated to rigidly secure the block to t .e strip in a plurality of adjusted positions longitudinally thereof (see Fig. 10). Obviously, the ball 65 and socket 66 constitute a universal joint and each of the squee ees 20 and 31 may be brought into adjuste plositions relative to the windshield so that t ey will effectively contact the exterior surface thereof.

Another feature of the invention is that the offset portion of the link 54 insures that the link will not obstruct the vision through the Windshield to any appreciable extent as the offset portion of the link is positioned above the normal line of vision of persons sitting in the front seats of the automobile.

he adjustable construction of the link 54 is advantageous in that the bracket 49 need not be accurately positioned with respect to the shaft 19 when the apparatus is being installed upon the windshield. The improved construction permits each of the squeegees to be so positioned that it cleans an are upon the windshield directly in front of one of the front seats of the automobile. Then, after the squeegees have been properly positioned upon the windshield, they may be operatively 1 connected to each other by the 54, it being only necessary to loosen the clamping devices 58 while the link 54 is being connected to the lever portion 52 and the strip 27. After the link 54 has been operatively connected to the Squeegees 20 and 31, the screws 59 are manipulated to tighten the clamping devices 58 so that the ofiset portions 55 and 57 will not he accidentally displaced relative to each other. The angle through which the squeegee 31 travels may be regulated by moving the block 67 toward or away from the shaft 19. @bviously, if the block is moved toward the shaft 19, the squeegee 31 will travel through a relatively small angle and if the block is moved away from-the shaft 19, the

squeegee 31 will travel through a larger angle.

in some instances, 1 prefer to replace the strips 27 and 39 with resilient rods, or the like For this reason, 1 preferably provide a groove 73 in the block 67, which groove 73 opens into the slot 69. Then, as shown in Fig. 11, if the strip 27 is replaced by a rod Z5 of substantially circular cross section, or

the equivalent, the block may be positioned so that the rod 75 rests in the groove 7 3 and the bolt or screw 70 may be manipulated to secure the bloclrlto the rod in an adjusted position. (if course, the rod may not be of circular cross section and the groove 73 may be of any desired shape, but in the preferred embodiments of the invention, the groove 7 3 should be of sufficient depth to receive the portion of the rod 75 or the member employed in place thereof.

Referring now to Figs. 12 to 20, inclusive, wherein l have shown apparatus embodying another form of the invention, the reference character designates generally a windshield of the type adapted to be angularly dis-' placed around an axis of rotation which ex tends parallel and adjacent to the upper edge of the windshield. The windshield 80 preferably comprises a glass 81 mounted in a frame 83, a portion of which frame 83 extends along theupper edge of the glass 81. The usual panel 85 or a similar portion of the body of the automobile is disposed immediately above the windshield 80 and the windshield is pivoted in the body of the automobile in such manner that its lower edge may be swung outwardly when it is desired to have the windshield in its open position. In the embodiment of the invention. illustrated in Figs. 12 to 20, inclusive, the frame 83 is U- shaped in cross section but it is to be undesrtood that my invention is not limited to the construction of the windshield frame as apparatusembodying my invention may be mounted upon various kinds of-frames or upon differently constructed panels provided upon the Windshields. However, the apparatus is preferably mounted directly upon the windshield in the event the windshield is of the swinging type. Thus, it will be noted that in Fig. 12, the operating mechanism and the Squeegees are mounted directly upon the frame 83, the operatin mechanism being preferably of the type s own and described in the aforementioned copending application, Serial No. 25,532 filed April 24, 1925, and be ing preferably enclosed within a housing 87 which is rigidly secured to the frame 83 by means including bolts 88, or the equivalent. Projecting from the housing 87 is a shaft 89 to which the apparatus within the housing is adapted to impart oscillatory motion. A

clamping member 91adjustablysecuredtothe shaft 89 and a resilient metallic strip 92 adjustably secured to the clamping member are of substantially the same construction as that disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 112,771 tiled May 29, 1926, a screw 93 provided upon the clamping mem er be ing adapted to tighten the clamping member upon the shaft 89 in a plurality of adjusted positions. The screw 93 may also he manipulated to bring teeth or detents (not shown) formed in the clamping member into engagement with the edges of the strip 92 to hold it in a plurality of angularly adjusted posi-" tions, the strip 92 being pivoted upon the screw 93.

Adjustably secured to the strip 92 by means comprising clamping devices 95 is a squeegee 96'. in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the clamping devices 95 and the parts cooperating therewith for adjustably securing the squeegee 96 to the strip 92 are substantially of the same construction as shown in my copending application, Serial No. 112,711. It is, of course, understood that when the shaft 89 is oscillated, the oscillatory motion will be imparted to the squeegee 96 and it will wi e an arcuate surface upon the glass 81.

peratively connected to the squeegee 96 is an auxiliary squeegee 100 which preferably comprises a strip 101 made of rubber, or the equivalent, which strip 101 is preferably mounted in a ll-shaped frame member 102 loosely pivoted by an annular pin 103 to a pair of clamping devices 105. The clamping devices 105 are substantially identical in construction with the aforementioned clamping devices 95 and are adjustably secured to the resilient strip 107 by a screw 108, or the equivalent. The strip 107 is preferably formed from metal and at its upper end is preferably provided with a hook portion 110 whereby the strip is pivoted upon the screw 111, or the equivalent, carried by a lever 112, the lever 112 having a hub 113 rigidly secured thereto. The hub 113 is rotatably journaled Mil i ice upon a sleeve 11% which is mounted upon a that the bracket 117 extends substantially horizontal along the frame and that it comprises an offset portion 120 so that the nut 116 may be positioned between the bracket and the frame 83. The sleeve 114, is of course of sufiicient length to prevent the head revent rotation thereo best shown in Figs. 13 and 15, the lever 112 is provided intermediate its ends with an integral L-shaped lug 122 which comprises members 124 and 125 disposed substantially at right angles to each other. The aforementioned screw 111 is screw-threaded into an a rture 126 provided in the member 124 of tliflug 122 and passes through a hole 128 provided in a rectangular block 128a whic is engaged by the member 125 and the main portion of the lever 112 in such manner that it can not rotate around the longitudinal axis of the screw. Obviously, the screw 111 may be manipulated to draw the block 128a against the hook portion 110 of the stri the hook ortion will be clam ed between the block and the member 124. n the inner sur faces of the members 124 and the block 128a are oppositely disposed detents or teeth 130 and 131, respectively, which are engageable by the side edges of the strip 107 and are adapted to cooperate with the screw .111 to hold the strip 107 in a plurality of angularly adjusted positions with-respect to the screw. It is readily understood that this construction permits the apparatus to be adjusted to have the squeegee 100 bear against the lass 81 with suflicient pressure to clean the g ass when it is oscillated.

Pivoted to the free end of the lever 112 by a rivet 134, or the equivalent, is one end of a link 135 which preferably comprises relativel movable members 136 and 137, the mem er 136 constituting that portion of the link 135 which is secured to the free end of the lever 112. The members 136 and 137 are adjustably secured to each other by U-shaped clamps 139 which are provided with screws 140, the construction being such that the screws 140 may cause the clamps to rigidly secure the members 136 and 137 into any one of a plurality of adjusted positions. The members 136 and 137 are provided with integral lugs 136a and 137a, respectively, to prevent accidental withdrawal of the members from the clamps 139.

One end of the member 137 is connected to the strip 92. Thus, as best shown in Figs. 16 and 17, a ball 144 carried upon one end of a pin 145 rigidly secured to the member 137 is journaled in a socket 146, the socket 146 being formed in plates 147 and 148 which are provided with apertures 149 and 150, respectively, to receive screws 151, or the equivalent. The screws 151 are screw-threaded into a plate 157, the construction being such that the screws may be manipulated to draw the of the bolt 115 from binding upon the hub 113 110 Windshields which 107 so that plate 157 toward the plate 147 to clamp the strip 92 between the plates. Obviously, the plates 147 and 157 may be secured to the strip 92 in any desired position thereon so that the link 135 will cause the squeegee to be oscillated through a predetermined an le.

It is not necessary that the auxi iary squeegee 100, its bracket 117 and the link 135 be used in connection with the squeegee 96 and the mechanism operating the squeegee 96, as the link 135 may be employed to connect the squeegee 100 with substantially any of the squeegees now provided u on automobiles. In Figs. 21 to 24, inclusive, have illustrated the manner in which the bracket 117 may be employed to mount the auxiliary squeegee 100 upon various types of automobiles having may be vertically displaced when they are to be opened. When such windshield construction is employed, 1 preferably secure the bracket 117 to the panel or frame member disposed immediately above the windshield, the bracket 117 being secured in place by the aforementioned screws 118. In Fig. 21, I have shown one arrangement wherein the offset ortion 120 of the bracket 117 is turned away rom the windshield which is designated by the reference character 160, the lever 112 and its hub 113 being positioned on that side of said portion 120 facing the windshield 160. Of course, it is readily understoodthat the bolt 115 may be readily removed from the bracket 117 to permit the lever 112 and its hub 113 to be mounted upon the bracket in any desired manner, i. e., on eitherside thereof. In Fig. 22, I have shown the bracket 117 secured to a panel 163 disposed immediately above the windshield 164, the bracket 117 having its offset portion 120 turned toward the windshield. It is obvious that this arrangement is employed in this instance as the panel 163 is much thicker than the corresponding panel in Fig. 1. In Fig. 23, the bracket 17 is secured to a panel 166 in substantially the same manner as it is shown secured to the panel 163 in Fig. 22, but it will be noted that in Fig. 23, the hub 113 is positioned upon the outer side of the offset portion 120. Referring now. to Fig. 24, it will be noted that the bracket 117 is secured to a panel 170 in substantially the same manner as it is shown secured to the corresponding panel of Fig. 21, but in Fig. 24, the offset portion 120 of the bracket does not project below the panel 170 and the hub 113 is positioned 'upon the outer side of the offset portion.

From the foregoing description of the apparatus shown in Figs. 12 to 24, inclusive, it will be readily understood that the bracket 117 may be employed to secure the squeegee 100 to automobiles of substantially any type, it being only necessary to assemble the lever 112 and the hub 113 with the offset portion 120 in such a manner that the strip 107 will cause the rubber strip 101 to efiectively ens ga e the outer surface of the windshield.

aving thus described my invention, 1t is obvious that various immaterial 'modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, vconstruction,

permit unobstructedvision through said windshield.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

arrangement and combination of parts here- I in shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: a

1. Apparatus of the kind described for supporting a squeegee to engage Windshields of vehicles, said apparatus comprising a bracket having an offset portion for spacin the squeegee a desired distance from a win shield, said bracket being adapted to be mounted so either toward or away from the windshield,

and means carried by the bracket for pivotally mounting the squeegee.

2. Apparatus of the kind described for supporting a squeegee to engage Windshields of vehicles, said apparatus comprising a bracket having an offset portion for spacing the squeegee a desired'distance from a windshield, said bra'cket' being adapted to be that said offset portion projects mounted so that said offset portion projects either toward or away from the windshield, and means for pivotally mounting the squeegee to either one of opposite sides of the oilset portion.

3. Apparatus of the kind described for supporting a squeegee to engage Windshieldsof vehicles, said apparatus comprising a bracket having an offset portion, said bracket being adapted to be mounted so that said offset portion projects either toward or away from the windshield, means adapted to be secured to either one of opposite sides of the offset portion for pivotally mounting the squeegee, and a pair of links for operatively connecting the squeegee to another squeegee,

said links having ofl'set portions to provide an unobstructed view through said windshield.

4. Apparatus of the kind described coma windshield, a second squeegee, lever, and

bracket adapted to be mounted on a wind shield spaced from said first-mentioned squeegee, anda link connecting said levers, said link having an ofiset portion soas to JOHN w. ANDERSON.

III 

